Constant pressure boiler



June 29 1926.

J. E. ODDON CONSTANT PRESSURE BOILER Filed Dec. 15, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 [52 ym i02 June 29 1926. 1,590,540

J. E. ODDON CONSTANT PRESSURE BOILER Filed Dec. 15, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 fiz @2725? J. E. ODDON CONSTANT PRESSURE BOILER June 29 1926.

Filed Dec. 15, 1924 3'Sheets-Sheet 5 far.-

Patented June 29, 1926.

UNIT!) STATES JEAN EMILE ODDON, or BORDEAUX, FRANCE.

CONSTANT PRESSURE BOILER.

Application filed December 15, 1924, Serial No. 756,150, and in France December 27, 1923.

The object of the present invention is to combine a steam generator with simple and reliable means for maintaining it automatically in functioning condition at a small expenditure of fuel and without other attention than that required for replenishing the tanks containing the water and fuel sup ply. i

This object is achieved according to the invention by the provision of a boiler containing heating elements adapted for the catalytic combustion of a gaseous air and fuel mixture under pressure; a steam pressure regulator arranged inside the boiler together with valves whereby it controls the admission of air and fuel to the heating elements as well as the discharge of useful steam from the boiler; a float for regulating the steam admission to a pump whereby the boiler water is replenished; and a device formaintaining uniform'pressure in the air and fuel tanks and in the exhaust pipe.

The invention also includes special constructions of the heating elements and the pressure regulators for ensuring a proper functioning of the steam generator.

Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings represents a view of the complete arrangement, partly in section and partly in elevation, and g p Fig. 2, a. plan of the same.

Fig. '3 is a diagrammatic view showing the co-operation of the different elements.

Fig- 4.- is a view on a larger scale of the steam pressure regulator. V

' Fig. 5," a sectional view of the device which regulates the pressure in the tanks and in the exhaust pipe.

Fig. 6, a vertical section of one of the heating elements,

Fig. 7, anincomple'te cross-section of the same and,

' Fig. 8, sectional views of the valve which controls the inlet'to the fueltank.

The boilerl (Fig. 3) contains a series of catalytic heating elements 8 which are fed with petrol from a tank 4 and with air from a tank 3. The pipes 15 and 12 which supply fuel and air respectively are fitted, inside the boiler with valves 44: and respectively, these valves being controlled by a lever 43 operated by a pressure regulator It; A pipe 63 through which steam is drawn from the boiler for use has a valve 4-2 which is also controlled by the regulatorlO. Besides the elements so far enumerated the boiler contains a float 11 which controls a valve 47 fitted in a pipe 64 which supplies steam to a pump 7. The latter draws water through apipe 19 from a tank 5 anddelivers such water through a pipe 48 and through a feed water heater 30 to the boiler. Another pump 6 draws air from the atmosphere through a pipe 29 and feeds it through a pipe 65 into the tank 3. The tank 4 is normally connected through a pipe 13 with the pipe 12 so that this tank and the tank 3 will be maintained at equal pressure. This pressure (about 6'7 kg. per sq. cm.) is maintained constant by a regulator 9 that con trols a valve in the pipe 56 through which steamis supplied-to the pump 6. The exhaust pipe 28 passes through the feed water heater 30 and also through the pressure regulator 9 which maintains equilibrium of pressure at both sides of the heating elef ments. 8. A pipe 20 connects the exhausts of the two pumps and feeds the spent steam into the water tank 5 which may also be connected through a pipe 18 with a condenser.

The heating elements are constructed as shown in Fig. 6 and are each composed of two nested vessels. .The outer. vessel 21 is provided with longitudinal radiating ribs 23 and with internal grooves 22 which extend longitudinally from the top of the vessel through about two-thirds of its length. The inner vessel consists of two hoods 26 and 27 and of an intermediate cylinder 24: made of wire gauze. The space 25 between the two vessels is filled with asbestos fibre with which has been incorporated a froth of powdered platinum as a catalytic agent, the charge being sul'liciently spongy to allow a free circulation of the gases. The air induction pipe 12 feeds through the'ho'od 26 into the centre space of the heating element, while the fuel, vaporizedby the heat of the boiler, passes throu'gh'the pipe 15 into the space between the hood and the outer vessel, i. e., into the space 25. The grooves 22 facilitate the dif fusion of the petrol, The air enters the space 25 through the wire gauze 24: and mixes with the petrol vapour within the catalytic charge where combustion takes place under the prevailing pressure. The spent gases pass from the space 25 into the exhaust pipe 28.

The pressure regulator 10 is, as shown in Fig. 4:, composed of a corrugated elastic chamber 31 which is carried by a base 33 and adapted for vertical adjustment between two uprights 36. The head 37 of the chamber is connected by a link 66 to the lever 43 whereby the valves 44 and 45 are controlled. The base 33 is connected by links 35 to a lever 38 which rocks about a pivot held by one of the uprights 36. A link 39 connects the lever 38 with a double-armed lever 40 one end of which is pivoted to the link 66 and the other to a link 41 which controls the valve 42. The base 33 is supported by a screw spindle 67 by means of which it can be adjusted vertically together with the chamber 31 between the uprights 36.. A thimble 34 is placed over the upper end or the spindle 67 and connected tightly to the base 33 so as to isolate the interior of the chamber 31 from the outside pressure. The spindle 6'? can be rotated from the outside by means of a gear 32 and a suitable crank, a scale being provided which indicates the different boiler pressures obtained by the adjustment.

W hen the chamber 31 is in its lowest po sition, the valves 44, and 42 are closed. To open the valves 44 and 45, the chamber 31 is raised, the movement being communicated to the valves by means of the link 66. Since the fulcrum of the lever 40 is raised as well as that end of the lever which is connected to the link 66, the opposite end of the lever remains stationary, and the valve 42 remains closed. creases owing to the combustion of the fuel supplied to the heating elements, the head 37 is depressed so as to decrease the admission, the valve 42 being at the same time opened so as to allow steam to be withdrawn from the pipe 63. lVhen the pressure for which the regulator has been set by means of the spindle 67 is reached, the valves 44 and 45 will be closed so as to interrupt the admission of further combustibles. Thus, this predetermined pressure will not be exceeded. If steam should be withdrawn to the extent of lowering the pressure excessively, the alve 42 will be closed so as to prevent further withdrawal of steam. There is thus a maximum and a minimum between which the boiler pressure will notrise or fall.

Fig. 5 shows the construction of the device for regulating the pressure in the tanks and in the heating elements. This device consists of a casing 68 which is divided by a diaphragm into an upper and a lower chamber. The upper chamber communicates through a pipe 51 with the pipe 13 so as to be under the same pressure as the tanks 3 and 4. A cylinder 49 which communicates with the upper chamber contains an elastic sleeve 53, the closed free end 54 of which is connected by a link 69 to a lever which controls the steam admission valve 55 for the air pump 6. V7 hen the pressure in the tank falls, the sleeve 53 opens the valve 55 and As the pressure in the boiler instarts the air pump. As the normal presure is restored, sleeve 53 is compressed so as to close the valve 55 and stop the pump. The lower chamber of the casing 68 communicates with the exhaust pipe 28, the dis T by the feed water in compressed condition,

they will on re-expansion at their discharge from the pipe 28 attain a very low tempera ture and can be effectively used for cooling the condenser.

The petrol tank 4 is replenished through a funnel containing a valve 14 which is shown in section in Fig. 8. The pipe 13 opens into the casing of this valve which normally holds it in communication with the tank, the tank being closed to the atmosphere, as shown in the figure to the right. W hen the tank is to be replenished, the valve is turned into the position shown at the left of Fig. 8, the tank being then open to the atmosphere, while the pipe 13 is closed so as not to relieve the pressure in the tank There are valves 62, 57, 58 and 59 in the different pipes. provided for use in starting or in case of emergency, and remain normally open. Steam can be supplied to the tank 3 through a pipe fitted with a valve 58 which is normally closed. Vfater of condensation can be discharged from the tank 3 through a ta 61. The water tank 5 is replenished through a pipe 71.

The boiler 1 consists of a bell which is se- Non-return valves 17 and 18 These valves are only i cured at its open end'to a base 2 through' which all the pipes are admitted and from which the bell can be removed to give access to the elements enclosed in the same.

Owing to the automatic function of the different regulators, the steam generator will require no attention either in work or at rest, and accidents due to human negligence will therefore be obviated. By the catalytic combustion under pressure,better utilization of the fuel is obtained. Since there is no risk of overheating, the boiler can be worked at greater than the usual pressure, and it can therefore be made comparatively small, a fact which will increase the scope of utility of steam as a driving power. Since the products of combustion are exhausted under pressure, the boiler can be advantageously used to supply driving power to submarines, means being provided either for maintaining the air pump in communication With'the atmosphere or for feeding the tank 3 with liquid air. As the boiler bell has a perfectly plain outer surface, it can be con veniently insulated to prevent loss of heat.

I claim:

1. An automatic steam generator comprising a plurality of heating elements adapted for the catalytic combustion of gaseous air and fuel mixture under pressure, a steam boiler in Which said heating elements are housed, an air tank, a petrol tank, a pipe connecting the tWo tanks so as to equalize the pressure, induction pipes connecting the tanks with the heating elements, valves arranged in said induction pipes inside the boiler for controlling the supply of air and fuel to the heating elements, a pressure controlled device arranged inside the boiler for operating said valves, means controlled by the pressure in the tanks for maintaining said latter pressure substantially constant, float-operated means for controlling the Water supply to the boiler, a valve controlling the exhaust from said heating elements, and means controlled by the pressure in the tanks for operating said valve so as to main tain substantially equal pressure in the conduits at both sides of the heating elements.

2. The combination claimed in claim 1 and means controlled by said valve-operating device for checking the discharge of useful steam from the boiler, substantially as set forth.

3. An automatic steam generator according to claim 1, in Which the means for controlling the tank pressure and Water supply comprise respectively an air and a Water pump, means for supplying steam from the boiler for operating said pumps, and means for utilizing the exhaust steam from said pumps for reheating the feed Water.

JEAN EMILE ODDON. 

